alignment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 332
Likes: 7
From: scottsdale az
Yes I got a printout but have no idea how to interpret it.
Before, when I took hands off the wheel the car would drift to right every time. not doing it anymore so I can only assume it was done correctly.
Before, when I took hands off the wheel the car would drift to right every time. not doing it anymore so I can only assume it was done correctly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,780
Likes: 314
From: Morris Co. NJ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18,'21
I don't want to be too critical but if you just got it back from an alignment straighter is not good enough straight is what you want. As far as how long it will last that depends on a couple of things first how are the roads in your neck of the woods? The second is how did you have the front end set up? Street or Track? Flat or aggressive. Those factors will determine how long the tires last. And the last has nothing to do with how the car tracks. Straight is straight.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 159
I've now got almost 24k on the Bridgestone Potenza RFs, and I got over 14k out of the Goodyear GEN2's that came on the car originally.
I drive "smooth", but semi agressive at times, bounce over railroad tracks several times a week, and drive on semi bouncy roads almost daily.
Sooooo, my point is, if they tightened everything up properly when you get your alignment, it should stay "in alignment" for a good period of time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
And it will last from minutes to decades. An alignment is kind of like cleaning the ashtray. It needs to be done when it needs to be done and there is no way anyone can determine a fixed schedule. You know you need to check the alignment when the car pulls on level pavement (most straight pavement in the US is tilted to the right to drain water and that will make the car pull slightly to the right), you notice uneven tire wear, or, in rare cases, you have vibration especially in the steering wheel though vibration is almost always just balance. These symptoms might occur quickly if that HORRIBLE dealer you had do the alignment who way overcharged you and tried to scam you of even more didn't bother to tighten the bolts knowing this would mean the alignment would soon go out and he could stick it to you again. On the other hand, I've had alignments last more than 80,000 miles.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
^^^^ see that above? it's correct. 
(altho I'd bet on the probability that most WILL need an alignment occasionally. we can always get lucky, but lucky and $1500 if we're not for new tires ...hmmm)
(altho I'd bet on the probability that most WILL need an alignment occasionally. we can always get lucky, but lucky and $1500 if we're not for new tires ...hmmm)
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 159
I agree with AOroads. I check my tire tread wear with a tread depth guage at least once a month, and if I would start to see uneven wear on ANY tire (or if the car started pulling, etc.), if tire pressure, other steering related parts, shocks, etc. were OK, I'd have it realigned ASAP.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
just to amplify on what seadawg said above, a tire "tread depth gauge" is a very mechanical thing----and costs about $1.50 at any auto parts store. it's worth about a tire to me.
not to be too funny about it, but I can't think of anything in my toolbox that costs less unless it's the screwdrivers I found by the roadside. or, the costco hotdog and soda (which is NOT in my toolbox).
not to be too funny about it, but I can't think of anything in my toolbox that costs less unless it's the screwdrivers I found by the roadside. or, the costco hotdog and soda (which is NOT in my toolbox).
Last edited by AORoads; Nov 21, 2013 at 01:33 PM.
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,475
Likes: 549
From: Jackson NJ
I had my alignment done at a competition shop. When done, the tech used an indelible pen to mark white lines across the face of the adjusting bolts & cams front & rear. Whenever I'm underneath for an oil change of whatever I can check to see if anything has shifted. It's been five years & everything is dead on. Admittedly, my C6 is a only a weekend driver & doesn't get much mileage. Situation with a DD might be different, but you can get yourself a pen, make similar marks & check every 6 months or so.
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 83
Likes: 7
From: Plymouth MA
Alignment changes are usually due to wear and tear, not so much from loose adjusting fixtures. It varies by miles driven, road conditions, driving style, and, God forbid, curbings. Make sure tire pressures are checked regularly.
Here are the recommended specs for a base C6, could apply to all, for a street driven car for best tire wear. These specs are what is called "preferred". The center on the tolerance readings. If the tolerance is broad and you are "within" tolerance, you could still wear tires and have a pull. Use thes preferred specs and not just within tolerance.
These specs came from the "tech nerd":
Front Camber -0.5 Degrees
Front Caster 7.6 Degrees
Front Toe between 0.0 and 0.05 Degrees
Rear Camber to -0.5 Degrees
Rear Toe to between 0.0 and 0.05 Degrees
I have mine checked every year and I drive it 10,000 each year. And yes, it needs a tweak. I live in New England with some tough roads.
Here are the recommended specs for a base C6, could apply to all, for a street driven car for best tire wear. These specs are what is called "preferred". The center on the tolerance readings. If the tolerance is broad and you are "within" tolerance, you could still wear tires and have a pull. Use thes preferred specs and not just within tolerance.
These specs came from the "tech nerd":
Front Camber -0.5 Degrees
Front Caster 7.6 Degrees
Front Toe between 0.0 and 0.05 Degrees
Rear Camber to -0.5 Degrees
Rear Toe to between 0.0 and 0.05 Degrees
I have mine checked every year and I drive it 10,000 each year. And yes, it needs a tweak. I live in New England with some tough roads.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 552
Likes: 3
From: Toronto Ontario
changed my coupe to widebody which required spacers under front upper control arm mounts to bring in range..
the odd thing with my car is that the pass side rear wheel sticks out further than the dr side maybe a 1/4 inch..
checked my buds car same thing..
anyone else have this condition?
the odd thing with my car is that the pass side rear wheel sticks out further than the dr side maybe a 1/4 inch..
checked my buds car same thing..
anyone else have this condition?